Friday, November 14th, 2008 at 11:00 am by Dogged Dogdom Posted in Dog News
The ‘Bark’ Obama craziness continues once again this week. If you are sick of the Obama Dog news please skip below to the other dog related news stories of the week. The one positive aspect is some interesting discussion on the “hypoallergenic” dog and many experts weighing in to dissuade some of the myths.
So vote in the latest Dogged Dogdom poll and then read this week’s articles:
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A “shelter” dog, one rescued from a pound or sanctuary, is also the preference of Obama’s wife Michelle. The precise breed could have a surprising influence on Obama’s personal standing, because his rise to power has been partly fuelled by support from America’s canine-loving community. Bark Obama, a conglomeration of dog-owning internet bloggers, lobbied long and hard for the mixed-race candidate after he dropped hints early on in his campaign that he was a dog lover. “So many people love dogs that they can act as a unifying force, but the thing about dog lovers is that, unlike cat lovers, they can be very breed specific,” said Beverley Cuddy, editor of the magazine Dogs Today. “Those, for instance, who like dogs with ears that stand up, may not care for those with ears that hang down. Obama could fracture his support among dog lovers if he doesn’t find a good blend.” >>Panting starts over president’s choice of top dog (11.09.08)
Among the offices Barack Obama has yet to fill, one has a special importance to his family: first dog…So, how to choose? No breeds are completely hypoallergenic. However, some breeds have a tendency to cause fewer problems — mostly those that don’t shed and need to have their coats trimmed regularly, or those that tend to shed less, said Stephen Zawistowski, an executive vice president for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Relatively common no-shed breeds include poodles, bichon frise, Portuguese water dogs and Maltese, but these breeds need professional grooming, which can be expensive. Other breeds that have a tendency to shed less are Schnauzers, Westies (West Highland white terriers) and Scottish terriers, Zawistowski said. >>Dog Experts to Obama: Plenty to Choose From (11.10.08)
He promised them a canine during his acceptance speech Tuesday night, perhaps going unintentionally and wildly off script when caught up in the euphoria of the moment. I sensed him thinking: Wait, what did I just say about a dog? I don’t have time to clean up after a dog now. I’ve got a war to end. What an idiot I am, even if I sound so smooth! Now he’s stuck living up to the promise, whether he meant it or not, since millions in addition to the two girls heard him. If he falters on this, fathers across the land will use him as a reverse role model with their own children. (”Yes, Patricia, I know I haven’t lived up to my commitment to help pay your tuition, but look, the Obama children don’t have a dog either. It’s just the way we fathers talk. Surely, you understand that now, thanks to President Obama.”) The first father has acknowledged the importance of the matter, telling reporters the canine question has generated more interest on his Web site than any other topic. >>Sure, he’ll be president. But history shows that Barack Obama is going to get stuck walking the dog (11.10.08)
VIDEO: A Parisian pet shop has been buying into so-called “Obamania” by selling dog coats, collars and leashes bearing the name and image of United States President-Elect Barack Obama. >>Raw Video: Obama Pet Fashions a Hit in Paris (11.10.08)
Peruvians crazy about their national dog, a bald and often toothless breed popular among Incan kings, offered Monday to send a hypoallergenic puppy to the Obama family. U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has promised daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, a new pet for the White House. But Malia is allergic to most breeds, he said Friday as speculation swirled about the dog the family would choose. Owners of the Peruvian Hairless Dog, a breed dating back 3,000 years and depicted in pre-Hispanic ceramics, say it is perfect for kids who are sensitive to dogs. “They do not cause any type of allergy and are very friendly and sweet,” said Claudia Galvez, 38, director of the Friends of the Peruvian Hairless Dog Association. >>Peru offers bald dog of Incas to Obamas (11.11.08)
The Obamas’ quest for the future First Dog has left some allergists howling. Medical experts contend media reports of the family’s desire to adopt a dog that won’t trigger 10-year-old Malia Obama’s allergies has left the public with the wrong impression of hypoallergenic pets. While some pooches may be less aggravating to Malia, all canines have the ability to kindle an allergic reaction, according the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. “Unfortunately, there’s not a 100 percent allergy-free furry animal in the world,” says Dr. Kimberly Ricaurte, a Winnetka-based allergist and immunologist. “Any breeder who tells you differently is wrong.” About 10 percent of Americans are allergic to dogs, with reactions ranging from irksome symptoms such as itchy eyes to more serious complications such as asthma attacks or constricted breathing, according to ACAAI statistics. Humans, however, aren’t allergic to animal hair, but rather to the protein found in dander and saliva. >>Allergist offers advice on Obama dog debate (11.11.08)
The Ritz-Carlton, Washington D.C. — known for creative promotions — is at it again. This one: “Vote” for which breed of family dog the Obama family should have in the White House. Voting started Monday in the lobby (anybody can cast a ballot). Choices of non-allergenic breeds include Bichon Frise, Goldendoodle (golden retriever mixed with poodle, according to my dog-loving friends), Schnauzer and Wheaten Terrier. You can write in choices, too. The tally will be posted weekly. For every ballot, the hotel will give $1 to the Washington Animal Rescue League (Obama has given thumbs-up to pund puppies). >>Decide the dog breed Obama’s family should have (11.11.08)
Goldendoodle? Bernese Mountain Dog? Irish wolfhound? Chihuahua? After selecting a chief of staff, President-elect Barack Obama quickly turned to the more pressing issue of finding the perfect puppy for his girls, Sasha and Malia. “We have two criteria that have to be reconciled. One is that Malia is allergic, so it has to be hypoallergenic,” Obama said Friday in Chicago, Illinois. “On the other hand, our preference would be to get a shelter dog. But, obviously, a lot of shelter dogs are mutts, like me.” >>iReporters sniff out names, breeds for first dog (11.12.08)
Would a hypoallergenic dog be a good option for people who are otherwise allergic to pooches? There is no such thing as a hypoallergenic cat or dog. One cat has been bred that’s considered hypoallergenic: A company called Allerca in San Diego found a line of cats considered hypoallergenic because of a naturally occurring divergence (mutation) of the protein Fel d 1. The protein is (normally) found in cat saliva, urine and exudes from their skin. I’ve found people who are extremely allergic to cats who are able to play with them and not have the sneezing. But in dogs, a mutation in any similar protein has not been found. >>What makes a dog hypoallergenic? (11.12.08)
The Obamas are looking to buy a dog? Tell me about it. Ten years ago, my family and I explored the same idea — and only the “perfect” dog would do. We conducted our search with nary a pollster to gauge public opinion or a single Secret Service agent to drive us from dog show to animal shelter. Heres the real-time description of how we researched our choices, and an update on what we decided. >>How to Buy a (First) Dog (11.13.08)
A Wisconsin breeder says she has just the dog for President-elect Barack Obama and his two daughters. Obama promised his daughters a new puppy during his election night speech in Chicago. He has since said the family would like to adopt a dog from a shelter, but that’s complicated because his 10-year-old daughter Malia has allergies. Pat Banachowicz of Colgate breeds Australian Labradoodles and has written a letter to future first lady Michelle Obama, offering one of her puppies. >>Wisconsin breeder offers Obama hypoallergenic dog (11.13.08)
President-elect Barack Obama is on a quest to find a White House dog that his allergic daughter can live with, but allergists have a news flash: There’s no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. Doctors who specialize in children’s allergies say kids who are truly allergic to dogs probably shouldn’t get one. >>Allergists to Obama: There’s No Such Thing as Hypoallergenic Dog (11.13.08)
Is there such a thing as a hypoallergenic dog? “I don’t think there is such a thing as a hypoallergenic dog,” Bowser tells WebMD. She explains that the major allergen in dogs is a protein found in dog serum, and dogs excrete that allergen in sweat and shed it from their skin. “It also gets secreted into the saliva, and possibly a little bit in the urine,” Bowser says. Since all dogs have that protein, no dog is completely allergy-free, according to Bowser. >>Obama Family Wants a Dog That Won’t Trigger Dog Allergy in Daughter; Allergy Expert Weighs In (11.13.08)
And for the rest of this week’s dog news:
What do dogs have that humans lack? Harry Truman, the straight-talking former president of the United States, once remarked that, “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.” But friendship is not the dog’s only virtue. A dog’s nose has 220 million cells that detect odours, compared to a mere five million in humans. And although none have yet graduated from The Harvard Medical School, they can often outsmart doctors in recognizing serious disease. In 1989, the British Journal Lancet reported that a female half-border collie was indeed a woman’s best friend. Her dog kept sniffing at a mole on her thigh, but ignored other moles. In fact, the dog had actually tried to bite off the mole when she was wearing shorts. The woman consulted her doctor, the mole was excised and the diagnosis confirmed a malignant melanoma. >>Dog’s nose can sniff out woes (11.08.08)
When Amy Jones received her law degree from Baylor University, her playful service dog Skeeter got the same honor. As Jones got her juris doctor degree on Saturday, Skeeter received an honorary law degree. “Amy has busted through brick walls, and Skeeter has been faithfully by her side every step of the way,” law school Dean Brad Toben said. “Skeeter has become a part of our community and part of our family here at the law school.” Jones has used a wheelchair since a 2002 skiing accident left her a quadriplegic. Two years after the accident, she was paired with Skeeter, a black Labrador retriever. >>Service dog, owner get law degrees (11.09.08)
www.petstress.com officially opened for business today. All animals experience stress but until now, there has been no place for pet owners to seek advice on stress-related pet conditions. The new website, www.PetStress.com is designed to fill this gap. It’s a free on-line service that provides information to pet owners about common stress-related pet problems, and what they can do to address them. Stress in humans has been recognized as a health issue since the 1930’s. Dr. Paul Rosch, President of The American Institute of Stress, estimates that up to 90% of all human visits to doctors are for stress-related illnesses. Animal behaviorist Patricia Simonet says animals also suffer from the physical and behavioral effects of stress. She believes the majority of behavior problems in pets are caused by stress and 90% of these problems can be modified by pet owners. >>New Website Provides Explanations and Solutions for Problem Pet Behaviors (11.09.08)
AIREDALE TESTEST: SNIF Labs has unveiled a pet accessory, the SNIF Tag, that combines wireless sensing and social networking technologies to give dog owners peace of mind to supervise their dog’s activities plus a means to socialize and develop relationships online with like-minded owners. Customizable, the SNIF tag is available in a range of colors and patterns. The small, stylish and comfortable tag attaches to a dog’s collar and records its daily movements and social encounters and then uploads them to the Internet. A secure area of the SNIF website then allows the dog owner to monitor if their dog has had a walk, played and/or napped while they are away from home…“The SNIF Tag has been a tremendous benefit to me since I recently moved to Boston. The monitoring aspect of the SNIF Tag helped me feel I was still connected to what was going on with my dog while I am at work,” said Hillery Lee, SNIF Tag beta tester. “In addition, the SNIF Tag provides me with an opportunity to meet new people. It was important for me to meet new people when I moved to the city. More importantly, I also wanted to meet others who shared similar interests, such as my love of my pooch and dogs in general. Staying connected to other dog owners could provide me with insight into the best local dog boutiques and parks where I could take Twix, my Airedale Terrier.” >>New, tag monitors dogs and connects pet owners using the latest in social networking technology (11.10.08)
A one-eyed, three-legged dog that won the title of world’s ugliest pooch this summer has died. The St. Petersburg Times in Florida reports that Gus, a Chinese crested dog, had cancer. He was 9. Gus was rescued from a bad home and went on to win the annual World’s Ugliest Dog contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in northern California. Gus came from humble origins. According to the fair, his adopted family in Gulfport, Fla., rescued him after learning he was being kept in a crate inside someone’s garage. He had one leg amputated because of a skin tumor and lost an eye in a cat fight. Gus’ owner had said the prize money from the contest would be put toward the dog’s radiation treatment. >>World’s ugliest dog dies after battle with cancer (11.10.08)
My new dog is a wimp. There, I said it. I might as well; I’m sure other folks around town are saying it, too, after what happened last weekend. As usual, I blame The Lovely Mrs. Taylor. It was, after all, her idea to dress our hound up like a clown with gender identity issues and force him to prance around in a “Halloween for Pets” competition. Now, those of you who read this column regularly (both of you) already know Prince is a big dog, or a small horse; the jury’s still out on that one. He’s a beautiful, noble greyhound, recently “rescued” from the track where he used to chase mechanical bunnies while race fans lost money betting on him. (He’s fast, but not by greyhound standards.) >>It’s hard for a dog to feel burly when dressed like a clown (11.10.08)
Tim Parkinson knows his dog and cat are past due for teeth cleanings. But he isn’t sure where the money will come from for the procedure. Parkinson, who lives in Lake Forest, Calif., is on disability and says rising prices are forcing him to look closely at how he spends his money on pet care. As the country slips further into an economic tailspin, with unemployment rates at the highest in more than a decade, pet owners are trying to give their dog or cat the best care they can on a more limited budget. For some, it’s a matter of simply cutting out the extras by buying fewer treats and doing more grooming at home. But some veterinarians say they’re seeing some pet owners skimping on preventive care by skipping checkups and even cutting back on some medications — which cuts costs, but could be putting their pet at risk. >>Pet owners skipping vet visits as economy sinks (11.12.08)
And for the most important news of all…the newest (and best) DoggedDogdom give away will be announced shortly, so stick around.
This Week In Dog News (Saturday, November 8, 2008 - Friday, November 14, 2008)
